2023-2027 Ketapang HCVA Protection Action Plan Document has been agreed by Multistakeholders to be finalized
Indonesia - 27 April, 2023
The Essential Ecosystem Area (KEE) is a new conservation category in Indonesia, introduced by Indonesia Ministry of Forestry (MoF) in 2011 as Government Regulation 28/2011 on Wildlife and Natural Conservation Area Management, which provides opportunities to protect forest covers outside of state-protected areas. This is potentially important for conservation, because of the limited number of conservation areas (only 18%), compared to production forest (57%) and watershed protection forest (25%). The implication is that most of the unique biodiversity is found outside state-protected conservation areas. For example, it is estimated that about 75% of the orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) population lives outside areas designated by the government for conservation purposes. Recognizing this discrepancy, MoF introduced KEE as a new conservation category in 2011. This category intends to preserve forests outside national parks, wildlife reserves, and hunting parks without changing the function and status of the forest. KEE may include areas classified as production forest, protection forest, and non-state forest area.
With reference to the above decree, in November 2017, West Kalimantan Governor issued Decree No. 718 of 2017 concerning the Establishment of Essential Ecosystem Areas in Kayong Utara District and Ketapang District of West Kalimantan Province. One of them is forested areas located between Sungai Putri - Gunung Tarak - Gunung Palung Landscape covering an area of 12,918.13 ha in Ketapang District. The Essential Ecosystem Areas function as a corridor for orangutans and other wildlife that connects two ecosystems that were once connected but cut off since the early 2000s due to conversion of secondary forests to oil palm plantations between Sungai Putri Peat Swamp Forest in southern Ketapang, Gunung Palung National Park in northern Ketapang and Gunung Tarak Protection Forest in eastern Ketapang. Prior to the issuance of the KEE, West Kalimantan Governor has issued decree No. 699/2017 on the establishment of West Kalimantan Province KEE Management Forum (futher called The Forum).
In 2022 Ministry of Environment1 and Forestry (MoEF) published decree No. 682/2022, which cancelled the Director General (DG) of Natural Resource Conservation and Ecosystem Regulation No. P.1./KSDAE/2021 dated 5 February 2021 KEE Management Effectiveness Assessment Technical Guideline.
Since then, there is no precise KEE umbrella regulation at national level. However, it is mentioned in the second dictum of the MoEF decree No. 682/2022 that KEE and Biodiversity Park assessed and established are still legal and must be protected until the next regulation is defined. This also meant that the defined Ketapang KEE (now HCV or ABKT) areas legalized by Governor and the Regent still have valid status.
In this context, KEE terminologies will not be used anymore and will be replaced by Areal Bernilai Konservasi Tinggi (ABKT) or High Conservation Value Area (HCVA) representing Ketapang KEE area that had been defined based on HCVA identification by PT. KAL, and BGA Group (large-scale oil palm plantations) before 2016.
Since 9 June 2022, The Forum which consist of the West Kalimantan Forestry and Environment Agency (DLHK), West Kalimantan Plantation and Livestock Agency (Disbunak), Ketapang District Planning and Development Agency (Bappeda), Ketapang District Settlement and Environment Agency (Perkim LH), PT. KAL, BGA Group, Sustainable Trade Initiative (YIDH), International Animal Rescue Indonesia (YIARI) and Tropenbos Indonesia (TI), have worked together to continue and improve Ketapang HCVA Protection Action Plan which had been initiated by TI in 2019, but unfinished, due to hiatus caused by Covid19. The 2019 version of the action plan needed some adjustments due to forest fires occurring in 2019 in the Ketapang HCVA, and the impact of Bauxite Mining Company activities in the Ketapang HCVA which needs restoration. The action plan itself aims to bring all partners by solidifying their roles in collectively protecting and monitoring Ketapang HCVA in the document.
After some meetings that discussed action plan document drafts following the first post-covid offline in 9th of June led by DLHK, there is a need to have the 2023-2027 HCVA protection and management action plans formulated by palm oil private sectors to be stated by their top managements in Jakarta (the capital) and for it to be witnessed by governments and NGOs. To do this, The Forum led by Province Secretary as representative of West Kalimantan Governor, conducted a workshop about HCVA Protection Action Plan as Steps to Support FOLU Net Sink of NDC 2030. In this workshop partners witnessed HCVA Protection Action Plan stated by Palm Oil Plantation top managements in Grand Sahid Hotel Jakarta, January 26th, 2023.
Through the latest meeting conducted on April 11th, 2023, the final revision to the Ketapang HCVA Protection Action Plan was suggested and the Head of DLHK has agreed to finalize the final 2023 - 2027 Ketapang HCVA Protection Action Plan document. The Forum is now working on the final revision. After the document is legalized, Central Government (MoEF through its technical implementation agency at province level) and The Forum will inclusively monitor the protection of the HCVAs. The Forum will also look for opportunities to include and adopt PT KAL and BGA Group’s HCVAs as protection areas embedded within the Ketapang District detailed spatial planning document to further strengthen the implementation of the action plan.
Note: 1The unification of the Ministry of Environment and Ministry of Forestry happened in October 2014.
July 25th, 2022: Formulation of 2023 – 2027 Ketapang HCVA Protection Action Plan Draft-0 Discussion Meeting in Pontianak.
November 10th, 2022, Meeting to organize Workshop with Oil Palm Plantations top managements to state 2023-2027 Ketapang HCVA Action Plan and to be witnessed by all partners and governor representative. The workshop is to be conducted on January 26th in Jakarta.
January 26th, 2023, HCVA Protection Action Plan as Steps Support FOLU Net Sink of NDC 2030 Workshop. In this workshop, partners including the Province Secretary as representative of West Kalimantan Governor, witnessed 2023-2027 HCVA Protection Action Plan. stated by private sectors.
April 11th, 2023, Latest 2023-2027 Ketapang HCVA Protection Action Plan Meeting that give final revision suggestions, and agreement from DLHK Head to finalized the Action Plan document.